Harrow Borough Council's ruling Labour group has splintered after a leadership battle.

An Independent Labour group has formed after Councillor David Perry was elected leader of the authority's Labour group at its annual meeting last month, seizing control from Cllr Thaya Idaikkadar, who had led the council for only five months.

With nine members, the group has left the ruling Labour group with the same number of councillors as the Conservative opposition.

Harrow's current mayor, Cllr Nizam Ismail and its deputy mayor and mayor elect Cllr Nana Asante are among them.

The group described how it had formed following the "unexpected and unwarranted" leadership challenge by Cllr Perry.

It said a "significant number" of Labour councillors had left the Labour Group to form the Independent Labour group with Councillor Idaikkadar as their leader.

The statement said that Cllr Idaikkadar remains leader of Harrow Council till 2014, adding Cllr Perry had not given any "convincing reasons" why he challenged his group leader.

The group's chairman Cllr Krishna James said: “It is with great regret that we have to form the Independent Labour Group. It was impossible to ignore the lack of fairness, equality and justice and attempts to resolve matters have not been successful.

"The Independent Labour Group subscribes to Labour values and its members remain members of the Labour Party.

“As the Independent Labour group, we would have more and good opportunities to readily
serve the residents in a most effective and efficient way, key purpose of being a councillor."

The new group:

Leader: Cllr Thaya Idaikkadar

Chairman: Cllr Krishna James

Secretary: Cllr Husain Akhtar

Treasurer: Cllr Asad Omar

Members: Cllr Nana Asante

Cllr Zarina Khalid

Cllr Raj Ray

Cllr Nizam Ismail

Cllr Mano Dharmarajah

 

How they stand - the balance of power in Harrow:

Labour: 25

Conservative: 25

Independent Labour: 9

Independent: 3

Liberal Democrat: 1